Reinforced fiberglass plastic roof for box cars

ABSTRACT

A railway vehicle roof including a plurality of sections made from molded reinforced fiber glass plastic sheets. The molded plastic sheets include a pair of transversely extending and lengthwise spaced ribs, a pair of spaced X-shaped ribs disposed between the transversely extending ribs, and a plurality of ribs extending between the X-shaped ribs. Upstanding flanges are formed along the transverse edges of the panel. A seam cap fits over adjacent ones of the upstanding flanges.

[ July 16, 1974 United States Patent [191 Allen 3,408,779 11/1968 Allen et 52/53 3,429,083

[ REINFORCED FIBERGLASS PLASTIC FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS ROOF FOR BOX CARS [75] Inventor: John W. Allen, Flossmoor, 111.

[73] Assignee: Stanray Corporation, Chicago, 111.

[ 22] Filed:

585,356 10/1959 Canada................ ..................52/53 Jan. 5, 1973 Primary Examiner-Price C. Faw, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sabin C. Bronson 21 Appl. No.: 321,339

ABSTRACT A railway vehicle roof including a plurality of sections made from molded reinforced fiber glass plastic sheets. The molded plastic sheets include a pair of transversely extending and lengthwise spaced ribs, a

4 9 Bm 36 d 4 4 8 0 5 uwQn 2 M36 752 l ,5 5 d4 M5 mh c .r "a e S Ld d Ld .mF .ll. 18 55 pair of spaced X-shaped ribs disposed between the transversely extending ribs, and a plurality of ribs ex- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS tending between the X-shaped ribs. Upstanding flanges are formed along the transverse edges of the mr u e h t f 0 S 6 n 0 t 8 c fi d a r 6 V o s t P p a S 6 00 mm Puma fl g Am d Mn m pS 22 555$ 22 55 1,709,603 Bonsall 1,956,302 4/1934 Swanson 2,446,323 Davis et a1 2,918,151 Kennedy................

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 1 REINFORCED FIBERGLASS PLASTIC ROOF FOR BOX CARS BACKGROUND The present invention relates to a lightweight roof structure for a railway box car and more particularly to a railway roof structure including a plurality of roof sections made from fiber glass reinforced plastic.

Conventional railway box car roofs comprise a plurality of roof sections made from galvanized sheet steel or the like. The sheet steel sections are joined along the mating transverse edges thereof by seam caps after the longitudinal edges have been fixed to the side plates by suitable fastening means such as rivets or nuts and bolts.

By the present invention it is proposed to provide an improved lightweight roof structure including a plurality of molded fiber glass reinforced plastic sheets of which each has at least two spaced X ribs in each of the sheets. The space between the X ribs includes a plurality of transversely extending ribs. The roof may include a central roof section made from sheet steel and located substantially midway between the end of the car. Further end sections also made from galvanized sheet steel may be located at each of the ends of the roof.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 1A are a composite plan view of a freight vehicle having a roof embodying the structure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken generally along the line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1 and showing the typical connection along the transverse edges of the sheets.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings. the roof l0 embodying the structure of the present invention is shown applied to a railway box car 11. The railway box car 11 includes side plates 13 and end plates 14. Each side plate l3 and each end plate 14 includes a horizontal upper flange 16 for supporting the roof 10.

The roof [0 comprises a center panel 17 which is located substantially centrally of the length of the box car 1 I and is secured to the flanges 16 of the side plates 13 by suitable rivets not shown. After locating the center panel 17, a plurality of intermediate panel sections 18, made from fiber glass reinforced plastic, are located between the central panel 17 and end panels 19, at each end of the roof 10. The intermediate panel sections 18 and the end panels 19 are secured to the side plates 13 and the end panels 19 by huck bolts and rivets, respectively.

The central panel 17 as explained above is made from sheet metal such as galvanized sheet steel. The central panel 17 includes a plurality of ribs 21 and 22 of generally channel shaped cross section. The ribs 21 and 22 taper out into the flat roof adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof. The ribs 21 extend transversely of the roof adjacent the transverse edges of the central panel 17. The rib 22 is generally X-shaped and is of lesser depth than the ribs 21 and is disposed substantially midway between the transversely extending ribs 21,

2 with the intersection of the X lying substantially along the center line of the car 10.

The end sheets 19 are each made from sheet metal such as galvanized sheet steel and is formed along its inside edges with a transversely extending shallow rib 23. The remainder of the sheet is substantially flat and the marginal edge portions along the side plates are bent to form downwardly depending flanges 24.

The intermediate panels 18 are each molded from a plastic such as a translucent or gray opaque polyester resin reinforced with fiber glass. Preferably the glass fiber content is 30 to 35 percent by weight of the panel. The plastic panel ismade so as to have a minimum flexure strength of about 28,000 p. s. i. and a minimum tensile strength of about 15,000 p. s. i.

The fiber glass reinforced plastic sheets 18 are formed by molding and include a plurality of transversely extending ribs 26 and a pair of X-shaped ribs 27. The ribs 26 and 27 are formed of channel shaped cross section similar to the ribs 21 and 22 in the central panel 17. Two of the transversely extending ribs 26 are located adjacent the respective transverse edges of the panel 18 and three ribs 26 are located in spaced sideby-side relationship. between two length-wise spaced X-ribs 27. The marginal transverse edge portions are each provided with a plurality of openings 28 adapted to receive fastening means such as huck bolts or the like for fastening to the horizontal flanges 16 of the side plates 13.

As shown each of the transverse edges of the fiber glass reinforced plastic sections are provided with upstanding flanges 29. The flanges 29 project from relatively shallow ribs. 33 extending along the transverse edges of the section.

A similar upstanding flange 32 is formed along shallow ribs 31 provided along the transverse edges of the center panel 17..The center panel 17 is also formed with a downwardly depending flange 34 which projects downwardly over the side plate 13.

Initially the center panel 17 is positioned on the side plates 13 and fastened thereon by Ihuck bolts. The fiber glass reinforced plastic or intermediate panels 18 are similarly fastened by huck bolts. Prior to positioning the intermediate panels 18 on the horizontal flanges 16 of the side plates 13, the mating surfaces may be coated with a sealant such as butyl rubber or a polyurethane base sealant.

The end sections are fastened to the side plates and the end plate by means of rivets. When the central panel 17, intermediate panels 18, and the end panels 19 are attached, the upstanding flanges along the transverse edges are in substantial abutting relationship as shown in FIG. 5 for example of a typical connection of the central panel 17 to an intermediate panel 18. The intermediate panels 18 are connected to each other at their upstanding meeting flanges, and the upstanding flange 29 on the central panel 17 is similarly fastened to the upstanding flange 32 of the: adjacent intermediate panel 18.

The connection between the flanges is made by a seam cap 36. The seam cap 36 includes a U-shaped section 37 which clamps the flanges between the legs thereof. The interior of the U-section 37 may be filled with a sealant 35 such as butyl rubber or a polyure thane base sealant. Extending from the ends of the legs of the U are horizontal webs 38 which are adapted to lie along the major portion of the length of the raised or shallow ribs extending along the transverse edges. The ends of the webs 38 also overlie the portions of the panel adjacent the longitudinal edges and having a downwardly depending portion 39. The ends of the webs 38 are fixed to the associated roof sections by either rivets or huck bolts.

From the foregoing and the accompanying drawings, it is believed the invention may be readily understood by those versed in the art sufficiently to enable them to make and use the same.

I claim:

1. In a railway box car having a pair of side plate structures extending longitudinally thereof, a roof structure secured to the side plates, said roof structure comprising a panel at each end made of steel and a central panel made of steel, a plurality of reinforced fiber glass plastic roof sections disposed between the respective end panels and said central panel, said plastic roof sections each including a pair of X-shaped ribs molded therein, said X-shaped ribs being separated by a plurality of transversely extending ribs, a transversely extending rib located on opposite sides of each of said X- shaped ribs, and shallow ribs along each of the transverse edges of said sections, a flange projecting upwardly from each of said transverse edges and being in abutting relationship with an upstanding flange on an adjacent panel, and a seam cap overlying said flanges and fastening said panels together along said transverse edges.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said seam cap includes a sealant for sealing said upstanding flanges.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said plastic sections include a fiber glass content of about 30 to 35 percent by weight.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said plastic is a polyester resin.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said plastic is a translucent plastic.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said plastic is a gray opaque plastic. 

1. In a railway box car having a pair of side plate structures extending longitudinally thereof, a roof structure secured to the side plates, said roof structure comprising a panel at each end made of steel and a central panel made of steel, a plurality of reinforced fiber glass plastic roof sections disposed between the respective end panels and said central panel, said plastic roof sections each including a pair of X-shaped ribs molded therein, said X-shaped ribs being separated by a plurality of transversely extending ribs, a transversely extending rib located on opposite sides of each of said X-shaped ribs, and shallow ribs along each of the transverse edges of said sections, a flange projecting upwardly from each of said transverse edges and being in abutting relationship with an upstanding flange on an adjacent panel, and a seam cap overlying said flanges and fastening said panels together along said transverse edges.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said seam cap includes a sealant for sealing said upstanding flanges.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said plastic sections include a fiber glass content of about 30 to 35 percent by weight.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said plastic is a polyester resin.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said plastic is a translucent plastic.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said plastic is a gray opaque plastic. 